Recently, I was thinking about what principles truly work in life and work. You know, those things that repeat regardless of industry or position.

It started with the observation that the more you fear something, the more likely it is to actually happen. That’s Murphy’s Law in action. But alongside that, there’s something I consider underrated — Falkland’s Law. It’s about not making decisions unless absolutely necessary. Wait until the situation resolves itself. I’ve seen so many people panic and act too quickly, only to find out the problem would have solved itself.

When you really have to do something, the Giedlin principle is helpful — if you clearly describe the problem, half the work is already done. Seriously, I’ve tested this many times.

In companies, you can also see Peter’s Law everywhere. Someone is excellent at their job, so they get promoted. But that doesn’t guarantee they’ll be equally good in a higher position. Those are entirely different skills.

Then there’s the communication issue — Gilbert’s Law states that the biggest problem is the lack of clear instructions. No one tells you what to do. That’s why systems are so important.

A few more things: the broken windows theory — if something breaks and you don’t fix it quickly, it attracts more negative events. You see this everywhere. And Huna Ersen’s Law — prioritize information and resources, and the rest will come naturally.

And finally, a larger number of people doesn’t necessarily mean greater efficiency. That’s Washington’s Law of Collaboration. Sometimes a team of five with good systems does more than twenty without structure.